Ferguson seeks police protection

BRISBANE: Convicted paedophile Dennis Ferguson has volunteered himself into police custody after angry mobs made him fear for his life, the Queensland Government said last night.

Acting Police Minister Robert Schwarten said Ferguson had asked for police protection after irate residents hounded him out two South-East Queensland residences in 24 hours. They had threatened to kill him and burn his house down, he said.

"The police have a very difficult job to do, but their job is not made any easier by people that seek to take the law into their own hands," Mr Schwarten said.

"If any person in Queensland asks the police for protection because they fear for their safety as Ferguson has, it is the responsibility of the police to exercise this duty without fear or favour."

Ferguson has been run out of the South-East Queensland town of Murgon and city of Ipswich ? about 180km apart ? in the past two days.

Vigilante groups had targeted his home, throwing rocks on the roof, yelling, holding placards and banging on the side of the house.

Ferguson was released from prison in January 2003 after serving a 14-year term for raping three children.

He was again jailed in NSW last year after failing to tell police he had taken a job which could have given him access to children.

Mr Schwarten said he was unaware of Ferguson's location, as the law prevented police from disclosing where he was.

"No-one condones what Ferguson did. Anybody with any decency is appalled at what he did and certainly do not want to see it happen again, but it is the police who have the responsibility for ensuring that," he said. "Vigilante behaviour of any kind will not stop crime of any kind."

Mr Schwarten said that ultimately Ferguson had to live somewhere and police should be allowed to get on with their job. ? AAP